The Biosphere Team who look after the Trail between Braunton and Meeth in partnership with Devon County Council's Highways team aim to ensure that Trail the it is an exemplar for sustainable management that keeps the Trail special for people and wildlife.
Here are just some of the things we have done during 2014 to achieve this:
Here are just some of the things we have done during 2014 to achieve this:
The Summer cut
Undertaken over the Trail's full length to ensure the path is kept as easy to use as possible. We try to cut late to ensure that flowers have a chance to seed but not too late so that the vegetation takes over.
Undertaken over the Trail's full length to ensure the path is kept as easy to use as possible. We try to cut late to ensure that flowers have a chance to seed but not too late so that the vegetation takes over.
Trail-side coppicing
This was done over 300 metres both side of the Trail in the southern section between Yarde and Bagbear. It opens up views, allows light to reach the trail to dry the surface and to bring opn wild flowers with the insects and other wildlife that they support. This work is done unpaid by a firewood contractor who gets to keep and sell the firewood.
This was done over 300 metres both side of the Trail in the southern section between Yarde and Bagbear. It opens up views, allows light to reach the trail to dry the surface and to bring opn wild flowers with the insects and other wildlife that they support. This work is done unpaid by a firewood contractor who gets to keep and sell the firewood.
Re-surfacing
15 years after it was laid down, the tarmac surface has been replaced between Torrington and Weare Giffard and at Landcross tunnel. Widening and re-surfacing work on 1km of Trail south of Yarde was also completed.
15 years after it was laid down, the tarmac surface has been replaced between Torrington and Weare Giffard and at Landcross tunnel. Widening and re-surfacing work on 1km of Trail south of Yarde was also completed.
Drainage works and fencing
The draininage on the Tarka Trail was orginally installed with the railway. It is a constant challenge to keeping the Trail from flooding. extensive ditch clearence has been done at Penhill. New fencing to keep stock from the Trail has also been built at Meeth, Watergate and Penhill.
The draininage on the Tarka Trail was orginally installed with the railway. It is a constant challenge to keeping the Trail from flooding. extensive ditch clearence has been done at Penhill. New fencing to keep stock from the Trail has also been built at Meeth, Watergate and Penhill.
Fremington Cuttings
This area is a County Wildlife site for its wild flowers and needs special management to keep it in good condition. Fencing has been erected to protect it from flailing and to allow sheep grazing which is the best sort of management for the flowers.
This area is a County Wildlife site for its wild flowers and needs special management to keep it in good condition. Fencing has been erected to protect it from flailing and to allow sheep grazing which is the best sort of management for the flowers.
Signage and interpretation.
The broken light columns at Braunton that have been disconnected and will be removed shortly. New low energy lights will replace them. The interpretation spires at intervals along the Trail are suffering from rot and need to replaced. It is hoped this can be done in 2015.
The broken light columns at Braunton that have been disconnected and will be removed shortly. New low energy lights will replace them. The interpretation spires at intervals along the Trail are suffering from rot and need to replaced. It is hoped this can be done in 2015.
New lights at Landcross
New low energy lights have been put into Landcross Tunnel to replace the old broken ones that had plunged the tunnel into darkness.
New low energy lights have been put into Landcross Tunnel to replace the old broken ones that had plunged the tunnel into darkness.
